Bullying Koi

I am new in fish and pond business and I have a goldfish bigger than the one Koi I have in my pond. Every time after he eats, he keeps bumping into my Koi. I thought he was being a bully but maybe he's just in love. I have one small butterfly Koi, 1 large (bully), 1 med and 1 small goldfish in the pond. What do you think the survival rate would be for the babies and should I feed the big goldfish more so he doesn't eat them? -Kim If you have plenty of hiding places, the survival rate of the baby fish is decent. More often than not, hobbyists end up with a pond full of baby fish. I would keep on feeding him the same amount of food. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

How earlier in the year do Koi start to spawn? -pondgirl07

That depends on where you live. In warmer climates, Koi will start to spawn in March and April. In colder climates, Koi will spawn in May and June. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Are all baby koi born black, if so when do they change color? -Brenda

Not all baby Koi are born black, only certain varieties are, like the Showa. Kohakus, for instance, are born with a red tint, with their patterns a darker shade of red. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Koi Eggs

Does anyone know how long Koi actually keep eggs inside their body before laying them to be fertilized? My sister has a Koi that is very rare and looks like it may have eggs in it, but has been that way for almost 3 months now. Is it sick or is it likely that its really eggs inside her? -Tanaya Koi will usually keep their eggs inside themselves for a few months until they are ready to be ejected. If they don't eject their eggs, they will re-absorb them into their bodies. This can be dangerous though, sometimes Koi will get impacted with eggs, then they turn into a tumor. The best way to prevent this from happening is stripping the eggs, either naturally or artificially. There is also the chance that your sister is over-feeding her Koi. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

When do Koi start to breed?

How old do the Koi have to be before they spawn....or breed? We've had ours for a little over a month and we now have a minimum of 17 babies....we have three 5-6" koi and two 4" koi.... -Tonya Koi start to breed when they are usually 2 years old and over a foot long. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

I bought a lot of Japanese Koi for 1 year but they haven't born any babies. Why? How can I do to get fish babies? -Ei Ei Khine

Are you sure that they are old enough to even breed yet? Koi usually start breeding when they are at least 2 years old and over 1 foot long. The urge to spawn is usually triggered in the spring, with the rising temperature of the water. They also need a place to spawn, usually a thicket of plant material. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

Do Koi mate with goldfish? Is it possible for my goldfish to spawn twice in two weeks? -Lynn

Koi will breed with goldfish. Usually the offspring look half goldfish/half Koi, with muddy colors. I'm not sure how often goldfish will breed, here's the wikipedia article on it: Goldfish, like all cyprinids, lay eggs. They produce adhesive eggs that attach to aquatic vegetation. The eggs hatch within 48 to 72 hours, releasing fry large enough to be described as appearing like "an eyelash with two eyeballs". Within a week or so, the fry begin to look more like a goldfish in shape, although it can take as much as a year before they develop a mature goldfish color; until then they are a metallic brown like their wild ancestors. In their first weeks of existence, the fry grow remarkably fast - an adaptation born of the high risk of getting devoured by the adult goldfish (or other fish and insects) in their environment. Goldfish can only grow to sexual maturity if given enough water and the right nutrition. However if kept well, they may breed indoors. Breeding usually happens after a significant change in temperature, often in spring. Eggs should then be separated into another tank, as the parents will likely eat any of their young that they happen upon. Dense plants such as Cabomba or Elodea or a spawning mop are used to catch the eggs. Most goldfish can and will breed if left to themselves, particularly in pond settings. Males chase the females around, bumping and nudging them in order to prompt the females to release her eggs, which the males then fertilize. Due to the strange shapes of some extreme modern bred goldfish, certain types can no longer breed among themselves. In these cases, a method of artificial breeding is used called "hand stripping". This method keeps the breed going, but can be dangerous and harmful to the fish if not done correctly. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit

A friend would like to breed Koi carp, could he do it? -Barbara

Anybody can breed Koi. Although, not many people know how to cull, combine breeding pairs, ect. If your friend is serious about breeding Koi, tell him to get in contact with a local domestic breeder. He might be able to volunteer his time and learn how to successfully breed Koi. Share: Del.icio.us Digg Reddit